Welcome to the University of Connecticut/Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program. As Residency Director, I am thrilled to convey the excitement we feel about Family Medicine education. We hope you find this site descriptive and that it answers many questions you may have about our offerings. We believe this program presents the best of all worlds - an enthusiastic University faculty located in an outstanding community teaching hospital rooted in a vibrant culturally diverse neighborhood. This is fertile ground to learn the science and art of family medicine.

 

As you explore this site, you will come to know some of the inner workings of our residency program. More important perhaps is that you feel the core values that underlie our educational mission. These values are humanity, diversity, collaboration, and innovation. A career in family medicine is a commitment to embrace humanity. We are rooted in a neighborhood where we can make a difference in people's lives. This focus permeates our clinical perspective and world view. We also strive to create a humane educational environment. One that recognizes the contributions of adult learners and allows the flexibility for individuals to chart their own course within family medicine.

We are committed to honoring diversity and approaching cultural differences with an attitude of humility rather than one of achieving "competence." This opens us to true learning and meaningful relationships.

Collaboration best describes our clinical educational model where pharmacists, family therapists, social workers, nutritionists, nurses, and staff work side-by-side with patients, residents and faculty in teaching and clinical care.

While our educational model is traditional - that is grounded in the fundamentals - we are also innovative.We instituted Electronic Health Records in 2003, and have literally transformed how we care for patients using technology and evidence-based medicine. We are a pilot site for handheld software. We have recently received a three year federal grant to incorporate technology into medical education. We are regionally and nationally known for our psychosocial curriculum. Our community health commitment is outstanding and has included everything from studying community resources for adolescents to a study tour of transmigration in Puerto Rico. We have interesting international ties with faculty members working on HIV programs in Armenia, primary care training in Turkmenistan, and family oriented care in China. As a result of their broad education in the best of a university administered, community based training environment. Our graduates have chosen careers in almost every conceivable practice setting (see our alumni).

I invite you to explore this site at your own risk! I think you will agree there is a great deal of opportunity here. As an added benefit, Hartford and the surrounding communities are a terrific place to live. Please feel free to contact us if we can support your path in Family Medicine in any way.

Eugene Orientale, M.D.
Residency Director